Thread box



A. A. KOISTINEN March 11, 1952 THREAD BOX 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 6,1949 Arnold A. Ko/Zsrinen INVENTOR.

BY Mzzw March 11, 1952 A. A. KOISTINEN 2,588,540

THREAD BOX Filed Dec.- 6, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 (ll/III Arno/d A.Koisfinen INVENTOR.

' and WW fiiamgz Patented Mar. 11, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICETHREAD BOX Arnold A. Koistinen, Madison, S. Dak. Application December 6,1949, Serial No. 131,280

This invention comprises novel J and useful improvements in a thread boxand more specifically pertains to an improved sewing cabinet forretaining, dispensing and severing threads from various spools housedwithin said cabinet.

The principal object of this invention is to ,provide an improved sewingcabinet for housing and rotatively supporting a plurality of spools ofthread; for independently dispensing thread from any of said spools; forguiding said thread during dispensing of the same to a severing means;and' for retaining the ends of the thread from which a portion has beensevered in an upright position in convenient juxtaposition to thesevering means.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a sewingcabinet in conformity with the foregoing objects which shall be capableof inexpensive, yet attractive and sturdy construction from plastics orsimilar material; and wherein the severing and thread guiding means maybe conveniently mounted and carried by the cover of the receptacleportion of the sewing cabinet.

,A still further important object of the invention is .to provide animproved sewing cabinet in accordance with the preceding objects whereina plurality of spools of thread may be compactly but rotatively housedupon a plurality of arbors formed in the interior of the receptacleThese, together with various ancillary feaitur'es and objects of theinventionwhich will 'later become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodimentof which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein: v Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sewing cabinetembodying the principles of this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 3--3 of Figure 1 andshowing a spool of threadrotatably journalled upon one of the arborswithin the cabinet, a portion of the thread being disposedin a threadguiding means and terminating adjacent a cutting means of the device;

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional deitail view; taken upon anenlarged scale substan- 7 Claims. (01. 242-135) 2 tially upon the planeindicated by the section line 44 of Figure 1 and illustrating inparticular the construction and arrangement of the thread guiding andthread severing means of the invention; I

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon theplane of section line 5--5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the coverillustrating the thread guiding and thread severing means thereof;

Figure 7 is a perspective view similar to Figure 6 and illustrating themanner in which the device is employed for severing a portion of athread; and,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of the thread retaining andguiding means and is arranged with respect to the threadv severingmeans.

Referring now more specifically to the accompanying drawings, whereinlike numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,attention is directed more particularly to Figures 1-5, wherein it willbe seen that the sewing cab- I0 having a bottom wall [2 and marginalupstanding side walls [4 which are open at their upper end, togetherwith a cover indicated generally at l6 which may be of any suitablematerial such as Lucite or other transparent material, and which has atop wall l8 together with a marginal depending side wall or rim 20 whichslidably embraces the upper portions of the side tubular arbors 22,which as shown in Figures 1 and 5, may be disposed in two or moreparallel rows, these arbors being conveniently formed or composed ofupwardly and inwardly extending hollow projections from the material ofthe base l2 0f the cabinet, these arbors constituting sleeve memberswhich are closed at their upper ends, and adapted to constitute axlesupon which may be rotatably positioned suitable spools 24 having awinding 26 of thread thereon, as shown in Figure 3.

Conveniently, although not necessarily, the receptacle I0 may be formedof a suitable plastic,

whereby the arbors may be extruded or molded from the material when thereceptacle is formed.

Ofcourse, the arbors could be separately constructed and attached in anyconvenient manner to the walls or floor of the receptacle, although 3the construction shown is deemed to be preferable from the practicalstandpoint.

As illustrated, 14 spools, in two rows of seven spools each may berotatably mounted upon vertical arbors in the receptacle, although itwill be readily apparent that the invention is not limited to anyparticular number of spools or any particular arrangement of the arbors,it being merely an advantage of this invention to provide a compactmanner for journalling a large number of spools with the thread of eachspool being independently accessible for use.

As shown more particularly in Figures 2, 3 and 5, the side walls [4 ofthe receptacle, adjacent each of the arbors, is provided with a verticalslot or opening 28 opening downwardly from the upper edge of the sidewall.

The depending rim 20 of the cover is adapted to terminate, in thecompletely closed position of the cover upon the receptacle, slightlyabove the lower edge or end of each of the slots 28, as shown in Figure3, to thereby provide an opening or aperture through which 'a thread 30from one of the spools 24 may extend, to the exterior of the receptacle,as shown in Figure 3.

Thus, when the cover has been removed, a spool may readily be removed orinserted upon one of the arbors, and a thread 30 thereof may be thendisposed through the open upper end of one of the slots 28, and to theexterior of the receptacle, whereupon the cover may be placed in placeto thus lock the thread in its opening or slot. Conveniently, the upperend of the'arbor 22 may be disposed in such a relation to the top wall[8 of the cover, that a spool 24 disposed in the arbor cannot be removedfrom its arbor while the cover is in place. The cover thus serves to notonly lock or secure the thread in its dispensing opening 'or slot, italso serves to lock or retain the spools 'u'po'n'the'arbor, whilepermitting a limited upward movement of the spool upon the arbor andfreely permitting rotation of the spool thereon.

As will now be more apparent from Figures 3, 4 and 6, the depending rim2!] of the cover I5, is provided at its upper edge with a laterallyextending portion 32. The top wall 18 of the cover is likewise providedadjacent each of the slots 28, with a plurality of marginal recesses 34which communicate by means of a narrow channel or slot 36 with theexterior surface of the enlargement 32, as shown particularly in Figure6.

Embedded, or otherwise firmly secured in the material of the top wall18, is a knife 38 of any suitable material, provided with a severingedge 40 extending across the narrow channel 36, and spaced from theouter surface of the lateral enlargement 32. The lateral enlargement 32is'provided with a vertical wedge-shaped or V-shaped channel or groove42 which extends entirely through and to the exterior surface of theenlargement 32, and which is disposed within the narrow channel 36 andadjacent the severing edge 40 of the knife 38. i

This wedge-shaped channel 42 constitutes a thread guiding and retainingmeans for the thread 30 of each of the spools, and serves not only toguide the thread into position whereby the same may be severed by theknife edge 40, but also retains in vertical position in wedgingengagement in the channel 42, the remaining vportion of the thread readyfor the next dispensing and severin of the thread.

Obviously, if desired, the knife members 38 may be detachably securedand retained in any desired manner in their recesses 34, so that thesame can be replaced as desired. However, in

4 some instances it will be found preferable to form these knives of anysuitable high quality cutting material and permanently retaining theknives as by embedding the same in the plastic material of the cover,with their cutting edges extending across and in spaced relation to theV-shaped recess 42 to provide a clearance to receive the thread 33 aspreviously mentioned.

During the operation of the device, it will be seen that any desiredthread may be selected, and by placing the finger of the user upon thesame as shown in Figure '7, the thread may be forced upwardly of itsguide and retaining slot 42, from the position shown in Figure 4 to theposition shown in Figure '7, at which time any desired quantity ofthread has been dispensed, and the end of the thread may then be pulledagainst the knife edge to sever the thread as shown in Figure '7.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the devicetogether with its many advantages will be readily apparent and furtherexplanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoingspecification and accompanying drawings, it is not desired to limit thesame to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within thescope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A sewing cabinet comprising a receptacle having side walls and ahorizontal cover having a depending rim embracing the upper portion ofsaid side walls, spool supporting arbors in said receptacle, a threadreceiving opening in the walls of said receptacle adjacent each of saidarbors,

a horizontal knife on said cover extending into said rim for each ofsaid openings.

'2. A sewing cabinet comprising a receptacle having side walls and acover having a depending rim embracing the upper portion of said sidewalls, spool supporting arbors in said receptacle, a thread receivingopening in the walls of said receptacle adjacent each of said arbors, 'aknife on said cover for each of said openings, said openings comprisingdownwardly extending slots in the upper edges of the side walls, saidcover rim obstructing the upper portions of said slots.

3. A sewing cabinet comprising a receptacle having side walls and acover having a depending rim embracing the upper portion of said sidewalls, spool supporting arbors'in said receptacle, a thread receivingopening in the walls of said receptacle adjacent each of said arbors, aknife on said cover for each of said openings, said arbors comprisingtubular, inward extensions of said receptacle, said cover rimobstructing the upper portions of said openings.

4. A sewing cabinet comprising a receptacle having side walls and acover having a depending rim embracing the upper portion of said sidewalls, spool supporting arbors in said receptacle, a thread receivingopening in the walls or said receptacle adjacent each of said arbors, aknife on said cover for each of said openings, said cover havinghorizontal apertures, said knives being mounted in said apertures, saidcover rim obstructing the upper portions of said openings.

5. A sewing cabinet comprising a receptacle having side walls and acover having a depending rim embracing the upper portion of said sidewalls, spool supporting arbors in said receptacle,

on said cover for each of said openings, said: cover having horizontalapertures, said knives being mounted in said apertures, said knives having a cutting edge spaced from an edge of said apertures to provideathread receiving passage therebetween, said cover rim obstructing theupper portions of said openings.

6. A sewing cabinet comprising a receptacle having side walls and acover having a depending rim embracing the upper portion of said sidewalls, spool supporting arbors in said receptacle, a thread receivingopening in the walls of said receptacle adjacent each of said arbors, aknife on said cover for each of said openings, a guide means forpositioning a thread adjacent a knife, said cover rim obstructing theupper portions of said openings.

7. A sewing cabinet comprising a receptacle having side walls and acover having a depending rim embracing the upper portion of said sidewalls, spool supporting arbors in said receptacle, a thread receivingopening in the walls of said receptacle adjacent each of said arbors, aknife on said cover for each of said openings, a. guide means forpositioning a thread adjacent a knife, said guide means comprising awedge-shaped groove in said cover rim for slidably receiving a. thread,said cover rim obstructing the upper portions of said openings.

' ARNOLD A. KOISTINEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 525,509 OLeary Sept. 4, 1894'925,431 Gensler June 15, 1909 962,285 Witt June 21, 1910 1,765,164Kirkpatrick June 17, 1930 2,176,822 Nordlund Oct. 1'7, 1939 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 287,667 Great Britain Mar. 29, 1908

